This year’s Athletic Training Class of ‘16 has a lot to celebrate.
All seven of the graduating seniors – Anthony Bartko, Alexandra Norris, Josh Amburgey, Josselyn Cook, Jaclynne Abrecht, Taylor Brown and Brandon McNeil – have passed the Board of Certification national exam on their first attempt.
According to Assistant Professor and Clinical Education Coordinator Ryan Musgrave, this group far exceeds the national average pass rate of 78 percent.
“I’ve been so impressed with how much this class has grown, personally and professionally,” Ryan says. “Obviously, they‘re ready for graduate school and ready to tackle the real world.”
Heidelberg’s Athletic Training program has a strong record overall, with 100 percent of the graduating seniors passing the certification exam over the past five years, although not always on the first attempt.
Ryan’s assessment that the Class of ’16 is ready for grad school is right on target. Two of them have landed athletic training graduate assistant positions at Otterbein University and Muskingum University. Two more will be teaching assistants in athletic training programs at Kent State University and the University of New Mexico. One will pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Findlay and one will begin a physician assistant program at the University of Mount Union.
Now that’s impressive!
“We are all very proud of all of these graduates’ accomplishments and look forward to all of them living out the vision of leading a life of purpose with distinction,” says Trevor Bates, associate professor and director of the Athletic Training Program.
“Like their predecessors, these young men and women have responded to the rigorous academic and clinical challenges of the AT Program, setting a higher bar for future graduates,” Trevor says.
The students have earned the right start celebrating their accomplishments by building on several Athletic Training traditions. On the last day of classes May 3, they enjoyed the annual athletic training cookout, at which time the seniors presented their class gift to the program – a very nice vacuum cleaner and a slide board that will be used for rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries.
Since 2011, tradition also calls on the previous year’s graduating class to purchase and present graduation stoles to this year’s alumni-to-be, to be worn with their graduation regalia. This tradition began in 2011, the same year that Heidelberg established its chapter of Beta Gamma, the national athletic training honorary. Ashley Kessler, ’15, traveled to campus from her GA position at Wright State University to participate in the presentation ceremony on Wednesday, May 4.
“I feel a great sense of pride being a part of this,” Ashley says. “Not only have we graduated from this awesome place, but the stoles help us stand out at graduation. It’s a way to recognize them for all of their hard work.
“It makes us so happy to give back to them,” she says.
(Pictured from left to right: Stephanie Romie,’15, seniors Anthony Bartko, Jackie Abrecht, Alexandra Norris, Josselyn Cook, Josh Amburgey, Ashley Kessler, ’15) (Not pictured: seniors Brandon McNeil, Taylor Brown, Alex Vogel, ’15, Lauren Belliveau, ’15)